1994 Memoir – 95. Marching Under The Rain

Halfway to our destination, when we were all getting hungry, tired, and weary, a strong rain relieved us of our thirst and lack of bath for many days. We welcomed the rain, as a turtle thrown into the water welcomes it.

All of us got wet except a few, like me, who had a raincoat I got from the abandoned warehouse and which I kept hanging on my gas mask bag. It was a light silk, large raincoat that became handy at that moment.

Only my shoes got wet but I had extra rubber shoes to change from my wet leather ones. I also had extra socks to replace my wet socks. Joselito was not well provided like me and so he developed pneumonia when we arrived in Capas P.O.W. Camp. We had to tie him to an unhinged door and expose him to the dew as his fever rose without any medical help. The cold morning air did him good and he survived. Praise the Lord!

God was so kind to me and provided me with all my needs. In God I trust!

Many of my co-P.O.W.’s did not have extra shoes, extra socks, extra shirt, extra pants, and so, from April 9 up to their death or release, they never changed clothing, which was full of lice!

Their clothes that got wet in the rain, their shoes and socks that became soggy were dried up on their bodies and feet, causing them to develop colds and pneumonia, which caused their early, untimely, painful death!

All these we suffered defending our Country under the American flag for the sake of Freedom, Justice, and Liberty.

Yet when the Rescission Act of 1946 was passed, it excluded Filipino veterans from equal rights, privileges, and benefits given to Americans and otherallies. WHAT A DISCRIMINATION! WHAT INEQUITY! NOT UNCONSTITUTIONAL?